Ever since Fii entered the Knight Order, she would report to York once a month. By now, it had become something of a routine.

Even though York was incredibly busy, always rus.h.i.+ng here and there, he never failed to make time for Heath. Each time he would listen to her, give her advice, and praise her.

“Captain, this guy from the Eastern Dormitory called Doug transferred in. We’ve gotten really close!”

“Aah, Kaisar-sensei’s disciple, huh. I’ve heard the rumours. It seems he has a lot of promise as a swordsman.”

“Yes. He really looks up to you, and says he wants to meet you one day.”

“Hmm. Is that so. Maybe I’ll try meeting him if I can find the time.”

“Yes, Doug would be very happy!”

The two of them often met in the gathering place, but today they were chatting in a rear garden.

And today, Fii felt a gaze.
Looking to her right, she found a maid about her age, looking over hesitantly.
Fii noticed where that gaze was pointed at.
It would be more accurate to say that the maid was looking at York. Since Fii’s gaze met her by accident, she flashed her a smile.

When the maid saw this, she timidly approached them.
In her hands were some wrapped cookies. Probably home-made.

And her eyes looked at York with some love.

“Umm, York-sama… I made some cookies. If it’s fine with you, please have some!” she exclaimed with her eyes closed, before holding them out with two hands.

Fii watched it all in admiration.

(The Captain really is popular. He’s cool, and strong, and just an amazing person. Of course he’s popular! Crow-san is popular too. I guess knights really are popular. Hu hu hu, one day I’ll be too.)

Fii sat there, imagining herself surrounded by maids offering their cookies to her.

The maid girl stood there looking downwards with flushed cheeks. She was probably too embarra.s.sed to look at him.
Fii watched on warmly.

“No need.”

But York’s frigid words were like cold water poured onto the girl.

“Eh-, Captain…?”

The maid looked up too and saw his face. She froze and grew pale before tears gathered in her eyes.
Although she was on the verge of crying, she still spoke with a trembling voice.

“Umm… Do you dislike cookies…? I’m sorry. N-, Next time I’ll bring something else.”

“No need, I said. No matter what you make, I will not eat it, nor will I ever eat it. It’s a waste of time.”

York’s words were like ice as he looked down at her with a cold expression.
The maid stood dazedly.

“I’m sorry…!”

And eventually she began to truly cry, turning around and running away.
York simply stopped looking at the running maid, as though nothing had even happened.

“C-, Captain!”

With a blanched face, Fii’s gaze darted between the girl and her captain.

“What’s the matter, Heath?”

“What do you mean, what’s the matter! What you said was so cruel!”

Hearing her objections, York’s eyes furrowed.

“If I didn’t go that far, she would have come again. Paying attention to these things is a waste of time. Even talking is a waste of time. I try and cut down time on those things as much as possible. I’m busy, after all.”

“How can you call it a waste of time! She went out of her way to make you those cookies!”

“I don’t ever recall asking for that. And it’s true that I would never eat them. It’s for her sake too, that I make things clear,” he declared with folded arms.

This time it was Fii’s brows that furrowed.
She looked towards the maid who was almost out of sight before running off towards her.

From behind, she heard York call out in a little panic.

“Heath, where are you going! You still haven’t finished reporting what happened this month!”

Turning to look at him just once, she shouted,

“Comforting a crying girl is obviously more important! Captain, you idiot!”

With that, Fii continued chasing after the maid, leaving York behind.
York simply stood there in a daze, watching her leave with eyes wide from shock.

“I’m… an idiot…?”

NEET-sensei: Yes.
Translator: Yes.